4.5 stars

This is a great introduction to parts of Irish mythology, as a master storyteller and historian tells the story of Scáthach, the greatest female warrior and later the weapons trainer to Cú Chulainn.

I knew Peter Tremayne's writing from the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/41999-sister-fidelma">Sister Fidelma</a> mysteries, and a little about Scáthach from my own reading, so although <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35128100-island-of-shadows">Island of Shadows</a> is more Irish mythology than Irish historical mystery, it wasn't as big a leap as you might expect.

And the story does not disappoint. From Scáthach's discovery as a baby, this dovetails with accepted mythology. There are testing, companions, magical weapons and a heroic quest for identity and honor. It feels like a fluid retelling of an old tale, though everything I knew about Scáthach before was pieced together from bits here and there. A great read!

Island of shadows by Peter Treymayne.
Eola and the crew he is with find a casket in the ocean. In the casket lies a baby. So he takes it home and his wife buimech takes the baby in who will be their daughter. They name her scathach.now years later while scathach is out hunting a tribe comes to finish what they started. When she returns her mother is dead. Her father says a tribe comes looking for her he gives her the Amulet she had as a baby and she searches for ronan the captain of the ship they were on when they found her.
This was a good read with good characters. Little slow in places. I did enjoy it near the end though. So I only give it 4*. Netgalley and Endeavour press.